Coin-controlled mechanism for vending-machines, &amp;c.



E. I. GARSON. COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR. VENDING MACHINES PatentedJuly 26, 1910.

APPLICATION FILED APR. l0 1908. 965,290a

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

-E. I. GARSON. COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1908.

Patented July 26, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I'll-Ill H I TTOR/VEY onto. 2

EDGAR- I. GARSON, YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN VENDING MACHINECOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING-MACHINES, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 26, 191%).

Application filed April 10, 1908. Serial No. 426,278.

venting the fraudulent use of tokens, spuri-' ous coin, and even agenuine coin when considerably worn w1ll be returned to the personattempting to use it without operating the coin controlled mechanism.

' carrier.

For the sake of brevity, I shall hereinafter call the device a fraudpreventer.

I will describe preferred embodiments of my invention and then point outthe novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fraudpreventer embodying my invention. Fig 2 is a vertlcal longitudinalsection. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the interior of the device someparts being removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse view of what Ishall call the Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing adifferent form of what I shall call a depressor. Fig. 6 is a horizontalsection of the casing showing a modified form of slot in the bottomthereof. Fig. 7 is a. vertical transverse section, showing the positionof a coin when first introduced into the device and also the position ofthe gripping pins. Fig. 8 is a similar View showing the same parts indifferent positions.

20 indicates the outer casing of the fraud being designed to guide-thecoin to them'echanism intended to be operated thereby, and the latter toguide tokens, spurious coin, etc., to a 'receptacleor' tray which willbe accessible'to the person using the device.

The carrier is indicated by 24 and is open at top and bottom as clearlyshown in Figs. 4, 7 and 8 It is designed to rest upon the bottom of thecasing and be reciprocated' to and fro within the casing. Its two sides25 are spaced apart a distance somewhat in excess of the thickness ofthe coin intended to be used in the machine. A handle 26 is attached toit and extends through an opening in the end of the casing a suflicientdistance to push the carrier from one end of the casing to the other.

One side of the casing is provided with an elongated slot 27 over whicha plate 28 lies on the outside of the casing. A set screw 29 passesthrough one end of the plate and the slot into the carrier, as clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and 3. The plate is supported at its other end by a setscrew 30 which passes through an elongated slot 31 into the side of thecasing. The slots 27 and 31 must be of suflicient length to permit thecarrier to move from one end of the casing to the other. The carrier isnormally held at the receiving end of the casing by a coiled spring 32secured at one end to the plate 28 and at its other end to the casing.The carrier is partially closed at one end by the handle 26 which fitsbetween its sides and is secured thereto by rivets or screws 33, seeFig. 2, or in any other suitable manner. The other end of the carrier ispartially closed by a block 34 which may fit against the ends of thesides as shown in Fig. 2, or between them as in Fig. 5, and be securedto the sides by any suitable means.

In either case it is intended that the distance between the inner end ofthe handle 26 and the o posing face of the block 34 shall be slight yinexcess of the diameter of the coin intended to be used.

The sides 25 of the carrier are each provided with a hole 35 throughwhich project pins 36 carried by plate springs 37 secured respectivelyat their upper ends to the two sides 25 of the carrier and normallylying flat against the outer surface of the sides as shown in Fig. 4.Each side 25 is reduced in thickness at its lower end to form a space 38between the lower ends of the springs and thesides. Onthe bottom of thecasing are secured two pairs of oppositelydisposed'cams 39' and"40,thecams of each pair being on opposite sides of the slot 21, and when thecarrieris at the reat the pins 36 will not project into the spacebetween the sides 25 and thus leave the carrier unobstructed to receivea coin,

as shown in Fig. 7.

The top of the casing is rovided with an upward extension 41 provi edwith a curved slot 42, the outer end of which'is intended to receive thecoin and the inner end of which will deliver it to the carrier.

Assuming now the machine is intended to be operated by a nickel (fivecents), the width of the slots 42 and 21 and the space between the twosides 25 of the carrier will be slightly greater than the greatestthickness of a new coin, and the part 21 of theslot 21 will be of lesswidth than the thickness of an acceptable coin to prevent it fromfalling through into the chute 23 when first introduced into thecarrier. When the slot 21 is of uniform width throughout its length, asin Fig. 3, one side of the slot is provided with an inward projection 43which will prevent an'acceptable coin from passing through from thecarrier to the chute 23. I also employ what I term a depressor tooperate u on the com and depress it. If an acceptab e coin is operatedupon, it will be depressed as far as the pins 36 will permit it to moveand if an unacceptable coin, token or a mere disk is operated upon, itwill be depressed below the pins 36 and entirely released therefrom. InFig. 2 the depressor is in the form of a bow spring 44 secured at oneend to the top of the casing with its curved portion adjacent to-thefront end of the carrier and its other end extending up through anopening inthe top ofthe. casing and bent over to be supported by thetop. This sprin is of a Width to pass freelybetween the si es 25 of thecarrier andthe lower part of its curved portion is normally below thelane of the pins 36. A set screw 50 may e employed to vary the tensionof the spring 44. shown in Figs. 2 and 5 these pins are semi-circular incross section with the flat side downward. In Fig. 5 the depressor is inthe form of a pivoted bar 45 having a curved portion 46 on its undersurface at its free end and a spring 47, secured atone end to the casingand bearing at its free end on the upper surface of the free end of thebar 45, serves to force the free end of the bar downwardly and the block34 serves to limit its downward movement. .In this case also the lowestpart of the curved portion is normally below the plane of the pins 36.

Assuming that the carrier is in the posi-' tion shown in Figs. 2 or 5,the springs 37 and pins 36 will be in the positions shown in Fig. 7,being so held by the cams 39. If, now, a coin be introduced into theslot 42 it will drop into the carrier and assume the position shown inFig. 7, where 51 indicates the coin. It may be observed that in practicethe spaces between the sides of the carrier and the coin will be muchlessthan shown in the drawing. Several features are exaggerated in thedrawings for the sake of over the wide portion of the slot 21 it will befree to move downwardly and will then pass under the depressor whichwill force it down until the beads 52 come into contact with the pins asshown in Fig. 8 and when in such position the depressor will be liftedabove its normal position and be exerting its pressure on the coin. Thepressure of the depressor on the coin is in excess of the pressureexerted by the pins 36 thereon but is not enough to forcethe inslaterally to release the coin when the latter is acceptable.Consequently the coin will be carried forward until it is over the chute22 when the cams 40 will act upon the springs 37 and move them and thepins 36 outwardly and release the coin which will then drop into thechute 22 and be guided thereby to the mechanism to be operated.

There are many kinds of fraudulent devices which have been used inattempts to operate coin-controlled mechanism and if they can only bemade to reach the mechanism a large proportion will operate themechanism as well as a genuine coin, irrespective of their weightdiameter or thickness. Many of these fraudulent devices which have beensuccessfully used are so thin that if an attempt was made to use them inmy fraud preventen they would pass through the carrier and slot 21, orby the projection 43 directly into the chute 23. If a disk of the samediameter and thickness as a' nickel, or

Y of the same thickness but sli htly different diameter were used and ithad no peripheral bead it would remain in the carrier and be grlpped bythe pins 36, but the latter would not be able tohold it against thepressure of the depressor and it would be discharged into the chute 23.A ain, in the case of disks having periphera heads but which are not as'thick as a nickel the same result .will happen because the pressures ofthe springs 37 and the depressor will be so adjusted with respect toeach other that the latter will overcome the former when operating uponanything except a coin of the proper thickness and with well definedbeads. *A.

genuine coin of the proper denomination if considerably worn will bedischarged into;

the chute 23, but this will not cause any loss to the user since it willbe returned to a receptacle from which he can remove it. In actualexperience it is found that more than ninety-five per cent. of thefraudulent devices employed vary so much from the coin jects throughtheslot' 21.

the operation of the machine. In order to prevent this I provide thecarrier with a depending pin 55, in the present case shown attached tothe handle-26, and this pin pro- If 'a token or other device becomesjammed in the narrow portion of the slot the pin, when the carrier ismoved forward, will engage such token or device carry it forward to thewide portion of the slot when it will pass through into the chute 23.

In the operation of the device it is intended that the carrier shall bemoved at comparatively slow speed in order to give the different partstime to act properly. Sometimes, however, efforts will be-made to movethe carrier rapidly by giving the handle a sharp blow on the end insteadof pushing it. Such rapid movement of the carrier would often besufficient to carry. many forms of fraudulent devices beyond the chute23 and into the chute 22. I therefore provide means to positively stopthe carrier over the chute 23 if moved with undue rapidity. A preferredmeans for this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 1, where it will be seen'of the plate 28 as shown in Fig. 1, and when the carrier is pushedforward at comparatively slow speed the tail of the dog, which normallylies in position to engage the shoulder 57, will, as soon as the head ofthe dog is opposite the recess 56, drop sufliciently to let the shoulder57 pass. If, however, the handle 26 is-struck' a violent blow theshoulder 57 will move forward so rapidly that.

the tail 58 will not havetime to move out of its way and will thereforeengage it and stop the carrier over the chute 23. The carrier -mustthenbe permitted to return toward its normal position whenthe dog will bedisengaged from the shoulder and the carrier may be moved forward ina-proper manner.

In the following claims where I use the term spurious coin I intend toinclude therein any form of undesirable device that may be used insteadof a proper coin.

Having described my invention, I claim :v

1. In coin controlled mechanism, a fraud preventer comprising a carrierto receive the 1 coin, gripping devices on the carrier for engaging bothfaces of the coin, and means for forcing a spurious coin from betweenthe gripping devices.

2. In coin-controlled mechanism, a fraud preventer comprising a carrierto receive the coin, gripping instrumentalities to engage.

the face of a coin, and means for forcing a spurious coin out ofengagement with said face gripping instrumentalities.

3. In" coin-controlled mechanism, a fraud preventer comprising a carrierto receive the coin, a coin gripping device on said carrier adapted toengage the face of a coin, and

means for forcing aspurious coin out of engagement with said facegripping device.

4. In coin-controlled mechanism, a fraud preventer comprising a carrierto receive the com, a spring gripping device on said carrier to engagethe face of a coin, and means for forcing a spurious coin out ofengagement with said face grippm-g device.

5. In coin-controlled mechanism, a fraud preventer comprising a carrierto receive the coin, coin gripping devices to engage the opposite facesof the coin, and means for forcing a spurious coin out of engagementwith said face gripping devices. I

6. In coin-controlled mechanism, a fraud preventer comprising a coingripping device to engage the face of a coin, and means for forcing aspuriouscoin outof engagementwith said face-gripping device.

7. In coin-controlledmechanism,.a fraud preventer comprising a carrierto receive the coin, a pair of spring actuated gripping pins onthecarrier positioned to engage opposite faces of the coin, and a springactuated depressor located in the path, of movement Y of the coin forengaging the-edge thereof.

8. In coin-controlled mechanism, a fraud preventer comprising a carrierto receive the coin, a casing withinwhich the carrier may bereciprocated, a pair of spring actuated gripping pins on the carrierpositioned to engage opposite faces of the coin, a spring actuateddepressor located in the path-of movement of the coin for engaging theedge,

thereof, and means within the casing for dlsengaging the pins from thecom.

9. In coin-controlled mechanism, a fraud preventer comprising a fixedcasing, a carrier within the casing for receiving the coin, said carrierhaving holes in its sides, plate springs secured to the sides of thecarrier and carrying pins which normally project through the holes inthe sides of the carrier &

to engage bothfaces of the coin, means for reciprocatin the carrierwithin. the casing and means or moving said pins outwardly at both endsoft-he casing.

10. In coin-controlled mechanism the combination with two separatedchutes, one for acceptable coins and the other for spurious coins, of acasing secured above the chutes and having a slot in its bottom todischar e into said chutes, a carrier to receive the C011),

and supported to reciprocatewithin the casing, means for reciprocatingthe carrier, spring actuated pins positioned to engage opposite faces ofthe coin, a spring actuated depressor located in the path of movement ofthe coin for engagingthe periphery of the coin and forcing s urlous coinfrom between the pins into t e chute to receive them,

I carrier, and

said carrier for restrictin and means for spreading the pins apart torelease a coin over the other chute.

11. In coin-controlled combination, a movable coin carrier proforforcing splurious coins only out of engagement wit predetermined pointin the travel of the means for releasing a good coin from saidsupporting means at another predetermined point in the travel of thecarrler. 1

I 12. In coin-controlled mechanism, a fraud preventer comprising abodily movable coin.

gripping device to engage the face of a coin means to force a spuriouscoin only out o engagement with said predetermined oint, and means forreleasing the. ip o saiddevice on a good coin at a pre etermined point.

13. In coin-controlled mechanism, the

combination with a casing having -a slot in its bottom narrower at oneportion than the other, a carrier within the casing open at top andbottom for receiving coin and delivering it through the wide portion ofthe slot, means for reciprocating the carrier, and a pin on the carrierprojecting into said slot for forcing a coin that may be jammed in thenarrow wider portion; thereof.

'14. In coin-controlled mechanism, a fraud.

preventer comprising a carrier for receiving a com, means forreciprocating the carrier,

and normally inactive means independent of the movement of the'carrierin one direction when operated underexcessive speed. 4

7 15. In coin-controlled.mechanism, a movable coin carrier adapted toreceive and carry, a 00111 to a predetermined olnt of de livery, and agravity controlle latch adjacent the. path of movementofsaid carrier andoperable under excessive speed of the carrier to engage and restrictmovement thereof.

mechanism, and in said supporting means at a gripping device at aportion of the slot into the 7 within tlhepath oftravel of 16. Incoin-controlled mechanism, a fraud preventer comprising a casing, acarrier for receiving and temporarily supporting a coin,

means forreciprocatin provided with'a shoul ermovable'with the carrier,a'nda pivoted dog adapted to contact .with said plate and 1 having oneend arranged to overbalance the'other, said dog and plate beingso formedas to permit the shoulder to pass when the carrier is moved in onedirectlon at normal speed but engages the shoulder and 'stopsthe-carrier when the latter is moved in the same direction at excessivespeed. 17. In coinecontrolled mechanism, a fraud preventing meanscomprising a -reciprocating coin-receiving carrier,-:mea1is-on thecarrier to engage aface of the coin'and support the coin within thecarrier, and means located within the path of movement of the within thecarrier and releasing it from said coin supporting means.

18. In coin-controlled mechanism, fraud preventingmeans comprising areciprocal;- ing coin-receiving carrier, means onthe carrier forsupporting .the coin within the -car rier, and means located within thepath of travel of the "coin for-changing the position of the coin withinand relative. to said coin supporting means, means forming a barrieragainst the passages of a non-spurious coin from the carrier under theaction of the position-changing :means. 1 y

. 19. In coin-controlled mechanism, fraud preventing means comprising areciprocating coin-receiving carrier, means on the carrier forsupporting the coin within the carrier, and means locatedjwithinthe'pathof the carrier, a plate coin for changing theposition of thecoin.

said coin supporting I travel of the coin for changing the position ofthe coin within and relative to-said .coin supporting means, saidcoinsupporting means forming a barrier against the passage of a non-spuriouscoin from the carrier under the action of the position-changing means,and havin sponding to the of the carrier. Y I 4 -20.'Incoin-controlled'mechanism, fraud.- preventing meansincluding areciprocating carrier, means for selectively supporting a coin withinthe carrier during its reciprocation in one direction, and means locatedand cooperating with the carrier to restrict the length of reciprocationofthecarrier during its coin supporting direction of movement when thecarrier is moved at excessive speed.

21. In coin controlled mechanism, .fraud irection of reciprocationpreventing means including a-reciprocating means; for selectlvelysupporting af carrier, coin wlth n the carrier durlng 1ts reciprocatlOIllIl one dlrectlon, sald carrier having a stop movable therewlth, andmeans located a path of travel corre-.

Within the path of travel of the carrier and and move a coin out of thecarrier if it be 10 cooperating with said stop to restrict the Withoutsuch outstanding rim.

length of reciprocation of the carrier during In testimony whereof Iaflix my signaits1 coiilil supporting diregtion of movemelcilt' ture, inpresence of two Witnesses.

W en t e carrier is move at excessive s ee 22. In coin-controlledmechanism, a i iaud EDGAR GARSON' preventer comprising a carrier havingmeans Witnesses: to positively engage and support a coin by EDWIN CRUsE,its outstanding rim, and means to engage JOHN L. FLETCHER.

